PLEASE NOTE

Due to reasons beyond anybody's control, including my own temporary infirmity there will be no Saturday Masses at Batley either this Saturday or next month.

I am feeling a little stronger now and hope to resume more regular posting in a day or two.

Thanks again for cards and prayers received.

Back in the land of the living

I have just returned from Mass at St. Joseph's, Castleford, which was a sung Mass. I had been looking forward to this like I look forward to my summer holidays! I was not disappointed. To witness the action of the Mass unfolding again before my eyes was as exciting as it was moving. I felt ten years younger by the end of Mass as I laid my fears, anxieties, sorrows and joys at the feet of the Lord and thanked Him from the depth of my nothingness for my deliverence and strength in the face of the recent crosses I had been given to carry.

Hair raising days

Following my last posting I went to a hotel in central Harrogate on Wednesday morning for an examiners' moderation meeting where upon arrival I promptly collapsed in the underground carpark with the most excruciating abdominal pain. After an operation to remove various bits and pieces, including the remainder of my appendix and eight nights in Harrogate hospital I was released this afternoon.
I should like to thank Fr. Wiley for administering Extreme Unction and for bringing the Blessed Sacrament to me and to the many other good people who have prayed for me and had Masses offered.
Mass will be offered for your intentions.
Glad to be home, I am still very weak and now have to work on building up my strength and confidence.

Prayer please

Please say a little prayer for me as I have been suffering with a terrible stomach cramp since Thursday and I am now beginning to feel frustrated and more worryingly thoroughly dejected and dare I say tearful.

Splendid occasion

Mass at St. Peter's, Bradford, yesterday was a splendid occasion. The Missa cantata was followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and the Litany of Loreto. To say that there were nearly a dozen children present, one could have heard a pin drop from the Vidi aquam to the final hymn.

Fr. Parfitt has asked me to remind readers that there will be a Missa cantata at Bewerley Grange chapel, Pateley Bridge on Tuesday 31st. May at 11.30p.m. for the Queenship of of our Blessed Lady.
If you are in the vicinity or are free that day, please do all you can to join us.

Weekend Masses

Saturday Vigil, St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. 6.00p.m.
Sunday - Missa Cantata, St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford. 3.00p.m.
Sunday, St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford. 3.00p.m.

3 years of blogging

This week sees the third year of this blog's existence. I just reread my original post back on May 6th. 2008. At that time there were 18 monthly Masses advertised as regular. Today there are at least 50 regular Masses per month and this blog now receives over a thousand visits per month.
Progress?

May - month of our Blessed Lady

At Broughton Hall this morning we had it all ; Missa cantata, beautifully sung by the schola, a sermon which mentioned Faith (the Epistle and Gospel), the Divine Mercy, the Beatification of Blessed John Paul II and the month of May and Paschaltide.

The triumphant hymns of the glory and joy of the Resurrection gave way at the end to the joyful strains of Regina Caeli followed by Caswell's This is the Image of the Queen.

I mention this now as the month traditionally set aside in honour of our Blessed Lady will conclude with Missa cantata at Bewerley Grange chapel, Pateley Bridge on Tuesday 31st. May at 11.30a.m. The Feast being the Queenship of Mary.

After Mass we had a refreshing glass of champagne to celebrate the beatification of Pope JP2 at our Polish friends' before going over to Castleford for the 3.00p.m. Mass where I got an easter egg. My first in absolute ages.

Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!

Blessed John Henry Newman, pray for us!

Our Lady, Queen of heaven, pray for us!